Greens NSW Senator and forests spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has congratulated Front Line Action on Coal for today's action at Whitehaven's Tarrawonga Mine, a proposed development which will destroy 150 hectares of both prime farmland and state forest.

"Today's action is needed because of the failure of the federal and the NSW governments to protect the local environment and take action on climate change," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The peaceful direct action at the main gate is a constructive way to highlight the need to protect this important food producing region.

"We have no confidence that the federal approval process for Tarrawonga's expansion will provide any meaningful environmental protection or properly consider the health and social impacts of this mine.

"I was at the Leard Forest Listen Up on the weekend.

"The farmers and environmentalists working on this campaign are inspiring in the courageous work they are undertaking," Senator Rhiannon said.